Author: Jalatian Sonya

BY SAREEN KASPARIAN

Like a normal teenager, I woke up later-than-usual and grabbed my phone to scroll through TikTok and Instagram. Instead of seeing the typical music videos and do-it-yourself hacks, my feed was flooded with disturbing videos of an explosion.

The videos were blurry and unsteady but the chaos and destruction was clear alarming. Videos from around the world tagged #prayforLebanon bared people trapped beneath rubble, balconies and windows shattered to pieces and a dark, mushroom like cloud looming over Lebanon’s port and surrounding cities.

The paralyzing explosion on August 4th in Lebanon has been categorized as the third most powerful explosion to date. This destruction sits heavy on a country already burdened with economic and civil unrest. To raise awareness and support for one of the regions cruelly destroyed by the explosion, I took immediate responsibly to start an online portal to raise money for the Lebanese Armenian community.

Launching the page was step one. Activating the community required the support and help of my family and friends.

“The call to action was launched with the creation of a GoFundMe page which allows supporters to donate anytime from anywhere,” said Nicholas Andriassian. “We educated ourselves and in turn educated others through social media,” said Dylan Ordubegian. “With a rising death toll and more than 300,000 people displaced from their homes, I took to social media to raise support and money for Lebanon,” said Natalie Shabazian.

“Sadly, it will only get worst before it gets better,” said Andrew Tchakmakjian. “Every dollar raised provides more stability and hope for Lebanon and its people,” said Alex Kizirian. “We urge you to join us and donate” said Matthew Partikian.

“No amount is too big or too small,” said Leo and Mike Najarian as they emptied out their piggy banks and wallets for the cause. Donate today.

To date, we have raised close to $6,000 and a portion of funds have been cleared for electronic processing. We humbly thank all our donors and look forward to reaching and exceeding our goal. All donations are pledged for distribution to aid the food, shelter and medical needs of the Lebanese Armenian community.

With the launch of the Pan Armenian Council of Western USA donation campaign, we will work with local community leaders to direct funds from this campaign to the united body under the high auspices of His Holiness Aram I.

As a Chamlian Armenian School graduate, Armenian Youth Federation Juniors member, Homenetmen athlete and ANCA-WR advocate, I am confident, that together, we will prevail.

BY YARON WEISS

Israeli arms dealers doing business with dictatorial states has devastating consequences both internally and externally for Israel.

Last week Azerbaijan used Israeli-made missiles, drones and high-technology weapons to hit military targets and civilians in Armenia, resulting in loss of Armenian lives and damage to civilian structures such as schools and factories.

In Israel, it has been suggested that it is developing close relations with Azerbaijan, including the weapons trade, as part of a strategic military campaign against Iran. But I believe that this is a smoke screen for laundering arms trade with the dictatorial regime of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan has a long border with Iran, the population of Azeris living in Iranian territory is double that of the entire population of Azerbaijan. Therefore, I don’t believe that the regime in Baku will endanger its people in Iran and its own political survival by forming a military alliance with Israel—Iran’s great enemy. The purpose of the arms deals between Azerbaijan and Israel is for improving Azerbaijan’s military competence against Armenia and enriching the cash flow of the Israel’s military industrial complex.

Azerbaijan continues to condemn Israel in every international forum, along with other Muslim countries around the world (including Iran).

So far, Azerbaijan has not opened an embassy in Tel Aviv, even though there has been an Israeli embassy in Baku since the early 1990s.

The Azerbaijani army used Israeli-made weapons to attack Armenia, an Israeli-friendly country that only recently announced its intention to open an embassy in Tel Aviv. The President of Armenia even visited Israel last January and met with top officials.

It is absolutely clear that one of the goals of Israeli weapons exports is to inject cash into the weapons industry in order to enable the continued development of military hardware for Israel’s Defense Forces. Israeli arms industries need weapons exports like oxygen to the body. They cannot afford to be dependent on the local market alone.

However, it seems that the security relations with Azerbaijan deviate from normal supplier-customer relations. It seems that Israeli weapons traders are trying hard to persuade their customers in Baku to purchase advanced types of weapons, that Armenia cannot get. (Azerbaijan’s defense budget is four times higher than Armenia’s defense budget).

The use of high technology weapons made in Israel by the Azerbaijani army is increasing the level of violence in the conflict by encouraging the Azerbaijanis to launch attacks against the Armenian army, knowing that it will be very difficult  for them to defend. These include fire control systems, missiles, “suicide” drones and more.

The leaders of the Israel’s arms industries and its government are not showing solidarity and friendship toward Armenia—an ally of Israel.

Therefore the Israeli society won’t  be surprised that there is no friendship and solidarity among themselves, as reflected in the most precarious social situation in recent times.

Yaron Weiss is an activist and writer based in Israel. He is a staunch advocate Armenian Genocide recognition by Israel. He has traveled extensively in Armenia and is a frequent contributor to Asbarez.